ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT07268729Updated Apr 29, 2026

Investigation of Pathogenic Gut Microbiota Patterns in Anxiety, Depression and Panic Disorders

An observational study in Anxiety, Panic Disorder and Mood Disorders, sponsored by University of Toronto. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 65 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-29.

Primary conditionPanic DisorderRegistry: Anxiety DisordersReclassifiedWhy we changed it
Registry
Anxiety Disorders — the first condition term the registry derived for this study.
ClinicalTrials.gg
Panic Disorder
Why
  1. The registry often attaches Anxiety Disorders to studies about something else, and this study's title and listed conditions do not name it.
  2. The study's listed conditions name Panic Disorder, a narrower term within Anxiety Disorders.
Confidence
High: the new condition is named in the study's own listed conditions. Of 351 hand-checked studies reclassified this way, 68% were exactly right and 84% in the right disease family; the registry's first term was right for 5% (measured 2026-10-21). How we classify →
Wrong?
Tell us the study's main condition →

Sponsored by University of Toronto · Observational

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Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
500
Ages
18 Years to 65 Years
Sex
All
01

Where this study stands

Counted across the records on this site · 2026-11-13

Among 21 studies in Panic Disorder with a site in Canada — 2 open to participants now, 5 under way, none of them phase 3. Panic Disorder · Canada.

Started
2025
with 1 other
Observational
5 of 21
1 open now
Registered
21st of 21
by date

Among the 21 studies in Panic Disorder with a site in Canada, this one is one of 2 that started in 2025, is one of 5 observational ones, and was the 21st registered.

Panic Disorder

270 studies on the registry are indexed under Panic Disorder; 37 are open to participants now.

Browse Panic Disorder studies →

Open to participants now

2 of the 21 studies in Panic Disorder with a site in Canada are open now. Recruiting first, the newest first:

All 2 open studies →

A study can be open while its sites in Canada have not opened yet or have stopped. Only those recruiting at a site in Canada →

Who these studies take

Of the 24 Panic Disorder studies recruiting now, 8 (33%) set no upper age limit and 15 (63%) stop at 75 or younger; 6 take children under 18; 3 take healthy volunteers.

This study: 18 Years to 65 Years · all sexes · healthy volunteers too.

The full table on the hub →

This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.

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Watch this landscapeDownload CSVNarrow it in search →With an account: a weekly mail of what changed among 21 studies in Panic Disorder with a site in Canada, or all of them as a file.
02

Study summary

This study aims to investigate the etiology of anxiety, depression, and panic disorders, providing new evidence and insights into the root causes and effective treatments, potentially offering a novel approach to achieving complete recovery.

Read the detailed description

Background: Anxiety, depression and panic disorders are among the most prevalent mental health conditions globally, affecting millions and imposing a substantial burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems. These disorders often manifest through recurrent, severe episodes of anxiety and fear, frequently accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, and dizziness, which can lead to significant functional impairment and diminished quality of life. While current treatment options include pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy, response rates vary, and many patients experience residual symptoms or adverse effects, leading to high rates of treatment discontinuation. Furthermore, the growing recognition of treatment-resistant anxiety, depression and panic disorders highlights an urgent need for innovative, evidence-based therapies that provide sustained relief without compromising safety.

Introduction Anxiety, depression and panic disorders are pervasive and debilitating chronic mental health conditions, affecting approximately 20% of the global population over a lifetime. Characterized by episodes of intense fear and physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness, these disorders can severely impact daily functioning, interpersonal relationships, and overall quality of life. Individuals with these conditions are also at increased risk for comorbidities including depression, substance use disorders, and cardiovascular disease, further complicating their clinical profile and necessitating more comprehensive treatment strategies.

Despite the availability of pharmacotherapy, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines, alongside cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), there remain substantial challenges in achieving and maintaining symptom relief. Response rates vary widely, and a significant proportion of patients experience partial or inadequate relief, with some exhibiting treatment-resistant symptoms. Moreover, pharmacological treatments can be associated with side effects like weight gain, fatigue, and cognitive impairment, which may lead to discontinuation or non-adherence. These limitations highlight a critical need for alternative or adjunctive interventions that can provide more effective, sustainable, and safer outcomes.

This trial was therefore designed to assess the prevalence of pathogenic gut bacteria among patients with anxiety, depression, and panic disorder compared to healthy controls.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the etiology of anxiety, depression, and panic disorders, providing new evidence and insights into the root causes, potentially offering a novel approach to these conditions..

Findings from this study are anticipated to advance clinical understanding and treatment options for anxiety, depression and panic disorders, providing a potentially more effective approach and that provide lasting relief for patients struggling with these conditions.

03

Conditions studied

  • Anxiety
  • Panic Disorder
  • Mood Disorders
  • Depression

Browse trials for

04

In context

Panic Disorder Reclassified

270 studies on the registry are indexed under Panic Disorder; 37 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 500 is above the median of 200 across 50 observational studies indexed under Panic Disorder.

Browse Panic Disorder studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Toronto is the lead sponsor of 404 studies on the registry; 55 are open to participants now.

Compared within Panic Disorder, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Anxiety Disorders. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →

05

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 65 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

The study population will consist of adult males and females aged 18 to 65 recruited from the general population and outpatient mental health clinics. Participants will include individuals with clinically confirmed anxiety, depression, or panic disorder, as well as healthy control subjects with no psychiatric history. The study will aim to include participants from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds to ensure broad representation of the population.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

    • Adults aged 18-65 years.

      • Either of the following:

        1. Diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or panic disorder according to criteria, regardless of current treatment status.
        2. Healthy individuals with no history of psychiatric disorders (control group).
      • Able to provide and stool sample.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

    • Diagnosis of psychotic disorders or neurocognitive conditions.

      • Use of systemic antibiotics or antifungals within the past 60 days.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(2)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

DSM diagnostic criteria

The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

06

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
500 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Patients under ongoing treatment

    Participants in this group are adults currently receiving ongoing treatment for anxiety, depression, or panic disorder. Treatment may include prescribed medication, psychotherapy, or other clinician-supervised care. These participants will complete the same baseline psychological assessments and stool microbiome testing as the other cohorts. Their data will help evaluate how existing treatments may influence gut microbiome composition and mental-health outcomes over time.

    Diagnostic Test: H pylori stool test · Diagnostic Test: Bacterial stool analysis

  • Healthy controls with no psychiatric history

    Participants in this group are healthy adults with no self-reported or clinically diagnosed history of psychiatric or neurological disorders. They will complete the same baseline assessments and biological sample collection (including stool microbiome testing) as the clinical cohort, but will not receive any treatment or individualized intervention. Their data will serve as a comparison reference to help identify microbiome and biomarker patterns associated with anxiety and depression.

    Diagnostic Test: H pylori stool test · Diagnostic Test: Bacterial stool analysis

  • Patients with clinically confirmed anxiety, depression, and panic disorder.

    Participants in this cohort are adults with a current, clinically confirmed diagnosis of anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, or panic disorder. Each participant will provide baseline psychological assessments and biological samples, including stool microbiome testing. Based on their results, they may receive individualized lifestyle or dietary recommendations under physician supervision. Participants will be followed over time to evaluate changes in mood, stress, and biological markers related to mental-health outcomes.

    Diagnostic Test: H pylori stool test · Diagnostic Test: Bacterial stool analysis

Interventions

  • Diagnostic testH pylori stool test

    Participants will provide a stool sample for noninvasive testing to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria. The test will be performed using a validated laboratory assay that identifies H. pylori antigens in stool. Results will be used to assess potential associations between H. pylori infection, gut microbiome composition, and symptoms of anxiety or depression. The test is diagnostic only and does not involve administration of any drug or treatment.

  • Diagnostic testBacterial stool analysis

    Participants will provide stool samples for microbiome sequencing using a validated laboratory assay. The analysis will characterize bacterial taxa within the gut microbiome and identify potential pathogenic species. Sequencing results will be correlated with psychological assessments and clinical measures to investigate relationships between gut microbial composition and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and panic disorder.

07

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Presence of pathogenic gut bacteria

    The presence of pathogenic bacterial species will be identified through microbiome sequencing of stool samples using a validated laboratory assay. Sequencing data will be analyzed to detect and quantify bacterial taxa associated with dysbiosis and pathogenicity within the gut microbiome. The primary outcome will be defined as the detection of one or more bacterial pathogens meeting pre-specified taxonomic or functional criteria.

    Time frame: Day 10 Upon receipt of stool analysis results

Secondary outcomes

  1. Symptom reduction, and eradication.

    Changes in psychological symptom severity will be assessed using validated clinical instruments for anxiety, depression, and panic disorder. Composite symptom scores will be calculated and compared with baseline values to evaluate reductions in symptom severity over time. Correlations between the eradication of pathogenic gut bacteria and improvements in psychological symptoms will also be examined.

    Time frame: Day 0 (baseline), Day 24 (post-eradication reassessment), and Day 30 (post-eradication reassessment)

08

Study locations

1 site
  • MedBliss Research Network
    Mississauga, Ontario L5B3C2, Canada
09

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Individual participant data will not be shared due to privacy considerations and data governance restrictions related to identifiable microbiome and psychological data. Summary results and aggregated findings will be made publicly available through publication and ClinicalTrials.gov reporting.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

10

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Dec 2025 to primary completion in Jan 2026, 1 month.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Nov 18, 2025
First posted
Dec 8, 2025
StartActual
Dec 10, 2025
Primary completionActual
Jan 25, 2026
CompletionActual
Feb 10, 2026
Last update
Apr 29, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 29, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07268729
Collaborators
MedBliss Research Network
Responsible party
Hassan Kattan (Principal Investigator, University of Toronto) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 8, 2025
Start date
Dec 10, 2025
Primary completion
Jan 25, 2026
Completion
Feb 10, 2026
Last update
Apr 29, 2026

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

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